The Importance of Tooth Enamel
Tooth enamel is an extremely hard substance that forms a protective shell around the top of each tooth to keep it from sustaining damage. This tooth enamel can be worn down by bacteria, physical damage, and other factors, leaving your teeth more vulnerable to decay. Once severe enamel erosion has occurred, you could be looking at cavities, root canals, and sometimes even tooth loss. This is why tooth enamel repair and protection is such a common subject.
Can You Restore Tooth Enamel?
The question that many people have is whether or not you can restore tooth enamel that’s been damaged. The answer is… yes and no. If you end up losing all of the enamel around a tooth, then there’s basically not much you can do about that.
However, when the enamel has been slightly weakened or decay is still in the pre-cavity stage, you can take certain steps to re-harden the enamel naturally. This tooth enamel repair can be done at home and with the help of a dentist.
Best Ways to Repair Tooth Enamel
Since tooth enamel is extraordinarily strong, it takes quite a bit of time for it to be worn off completely. This means you have plenty of time for tooth enamel repair if you simply pay attention and put in a little effort.
Here are the best ways to protect and/or restore the enamel:
Practice Good Oral Hygiene
It’ll obviously come as no surprise that practicing good oral health will be at the top of your tooth enamel repair list. Brushing your teeth with a fluoride toothpaste twice per day, in addition to flossing at least once per day, will go a long way to protecting and restoring your enamel. Also, keep in mind that many people skip their dental routine when they’re tired at night, so try to get these things done a little earlier if needed.
Schedule a Fluoride Treatment
As we mentioned above, you should be brushing your teeth with a fluoride toothpaste to protect and restore your tooth enamel. Adding a fluoride mouthwash to your daily routine will also help get rid of bacteria and improve your oral health. If you already have weak enamel, however, we’d suggest that you go a step further by contacting your dentist for a stronger fluoride treatment.
Avoid Harmful Foods & Drinks
Many foods and beverages are notorious for damaging tooth enamel and causing decay. Highly acidic foods and drinks are some of the worst because the acids can eat away at your enamel over time. Eating or drinking substances with a high level of sugar could be even worse, especially since so many people have a sweet tooth that they must routinely satisfy.
Stop Grinding Your Teeth
Grinding your teeth is one of the worst things you can do if you’re trying to protect your enamel, but it’s often difficult to recognize that it’s happening. Most people who grind their teeth do so at night and can go years without realizing that they’re doing it. Your dentist will check for signs of teeth grinding and then give you some solutions to help rectify the problem.
Visit the Dentist Regularly
People who neglect visiting the dentist on a regular basis are often those that show up after a few years with multiple cavities and maybe even the need for a root canal or two. You can avoid many dental issues by visiting the dentist every six months for an examination and teeth cleaning. Combined with a daily brushing and flossing routine, this is the most effective oral hygiene strategy.
Chew Sugar-Free Gum
If you want to protect or restore your tooth enamel in a fun, tasty way, you should chew sugar-free gum after each meal. Chewing gum boosts your saliva production, which can help clear out harmful bacteria before it’s able to damage your teeth. The best ones are those that carry the ADA Seal of Acceptance, so keep your eye out for those particular types of gum.
Consider Dental Sealants
If you always seem to have a problem with maintaining good oral health, you may want to consider having your dentist provide you with dental sealants. While sealants were once thought of as a treatment only for kids, the truth is that adults have increasingly been using them in recent years. Dental sealants will last up to 10 years and will help protect your teeth from bacteria and other substances that can cause decay.
Contact Dr. Ferullo for Tooth Enamel Repair
The St. Petersburg dentist office of Dr. Ferullo has assisted patients with tooth enamel repair and protection for many years. If you have any questions about our services, including our teeth whitening options, or would like to schedule an appointment, reach out by calling (727) 822-8101 today!
